another mag question

[rbridges]

alright, my next 500 inspection is looming.  I was looking at the logs, and I have slick magnetos 4370 and 4374.  The original owner did the 500 hr inspection at 505 smoh.  My next annual will get me at the next 500 hr interval give or take.  Do they usually make it past a couple of inspections?  any recommendations of who should do the inspection.  The previous owner's IA did it.  Do most IA's know how to do a good job, or is it something that I should have sent out?

[philipneeper]

An A&P can do it for you

[ArtVandelay]

Mine went 1200 hrs, but I wouldn't recommend it, my starts took a lot prop revolutions, it wasn't that expensive

[rbridges]

1200 between checks or total service time?

[FloridaMan]

I wouldn't do both mags at once, even if they're due. My fear is someone making the same mistake on both mags or a bad batch of parts causing simultaneous infant mortality on both. There's a place in Florida that I've been referred to (I haven't used them yet, but they seem cheaper than most shops and claim to have a one day turnaround) that has a fixed price for mag IRANs called Tropic Airpower: http://www.tropicairpower.com/

[FloridaMan]

Also, you have a C and posted two mags, so I assume that you don't have the dual mag that a lot of the J's have. I wanted to mention this in case there's a "J" owner reading that may not be aware of this (engines with a "D" as part of the engine number, such as IO-360-A3B6D). I have heard that the plastic gear in the dual mags have killed a number of people due to neglected inspection and maintenance. What happens on those is that the teeth break off of the gear, resulting in a failure of both mags. This accident was reported as being due to an improperly mounted dual magneto, but it highlights my point in staggering the service. If someone is going to do an improper installation, it's best that they're only doing it to only one of them if you have the benefit of single magnetos. http://mooneyspace.com/topic/6147-sad-tale-of-a-io-360-a3b6d-be-careful-folks/

[Guest]

I wonder if Lycoming will start sending out engines with different times on the mags to avoid infant mortality?

Clarence

[ArtVandelay]

1200 between checks or total service time?

between checks...total time is 1700

[FloridaMan]

I wonder if Lycoming will start sending out engines with different times on the mags to avoid infant mortality?

Clarence

 

I wouldn't think so. This is just my own paranoia and, as far as I know, not exactly a standard practice. Bad parts often come in batches and people tend to assemble and torque things the same way each time. If there are bad parts or an apprentice missing oversight and making a mistake, I'd rather lose just one mag than both. 

 

I will go on to say that the demand and pay for qualified jet aircraft mechanics has enough disparity to create a substantial void of highly competent GA piston mechanics. I'm not saying all GA A&Ps are bad; there are good A&Ps out there, and it's a reason why most of us use the same mechanics. 

[philiplane]

There is no way to know if Slick has tamed their QC problems on new mags and replacement parts since 2006. Some of their parts have a 250 hour inspection cycle as a result of poor quality replacement parts they made.

 

It's best to do the 500 hour inspection on time, and possibly cut back to 250 hours as recommended in several Slick service bulletins until we know the parts will last longer than 500 hours.

[Danb]

A few yrs ago I flew my J down to Premiere in Fxe for a prebuy and when the mechanic checked out the mag's the plastic gears as Antares mentioned fell apart in his hands, cost me ,but the mechanic stated I was lucky to have made it from De to Fla..BTW it just came out of annual and I thought my guy had my plane pristine and all told after the prebuy inspection I cost me about $10000. ouch. I met up with the new owner at a MaPa training seminar and after 8 yrs he told me he has yet to have a problem...I was the 1st owner...

[triple8s]

I was told by an old pilot, he said replace one mag with brand new, not rebuilt but new. He said have the other built and alternate every 500, he said yeah it's a little bit more money but he says these engines will NOT run without a spark and what is your life worth. I

may go this route when the time comes.

[N9405V]

Just had both mags on a 1970 E IRAN'd and replaced the wiring harness.  I've got Bendix mags with 1000 hours on them.  While we were in there we also replaced the wiring harness and plugs.  I think total cost was $2300.  About $500 to IRAN each, $400 for the wiring harness, $300ish for the plugs, and about 5 hours of labor/shipping charges.  Mags were sent out to a shop. 

[cujet]

I wonder if Lycoming will start sending out engines with different times on the mags to avoid infant mortality?

Clarence

Nope, 

 

And a friend just had 2 "infant mortality" magneto failures on his Lycoming factory new engine. 

 

I agree with staggering magneto repairs for safety, when ever possible. I do this.